Author: Annie Winner

The Silent Epidemic: Drug Abuse in the U.S. Prison System

The U.S. prison system, designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate individuals into society, has become a breeding ground for a silent epidemic: drug abuse. While prisons are meant to be institutions of correction, the prevalence of drug abuse among inmates has reached alarming levels, posing significant challenges to the overall goal of rehabilitation.

This article delves into the complex issue of drug abuse within the U.S. prison system, exploring its root causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

Root Causes of Drug Abuse in Prisons

Understanding the root causes of drug abuse in the U.S. prison system is essential for developing effective strategies to combat the issue. Several interconnected factors contribute to the high rates of drug abuse behind bars.

Pre-existing Substance Abuse Issues: Many individuals entering the prison system already struggle with substance abuse issues. The cycle of addiction often leads individuals to criminal behavior, ultimately landing them in prison. Once inside, the stressors of incarceration may exacerbate their pre-existing addiction problems.
Limited Access to Treatment Programs: Prisons are often ill-equipped to address the complex needs of inmates with substance abuse disorders. Limited access to evidence-based treatment programs means that individuals with addiction issues may not receive the support and resources necessary for recovery.
Overcrowded and Understaffed Facilities: Overcrowded prisons and understaffed facilities contribute to an environment where illicit substances can easily enter and circulate. In such conditions, it becomes challenging for prison staff to monitor and control the flow of drugs, allowing them to proliferate within the prison walls.
Lack of Mental Health Services: Substance abuse and mental health issues are often intertwined. Many inmates in the U.S. prison system grapple with underlying mental health conditions, and the lack of adequate mental health services contributes to the prevalence of self-medication through drug abuse.

Consequences of Drug Abuse in Prisons

The consequences of drug abuse within the U.S. prison system extend far beyond the individual inmate, affecting the safety, security, and overall effectiveness of the correctional system.

Violence and Security Risks: Drug abuse within prisons is linked to an increase in violence among inmates. Competition for control of the drug trade can lead to gang-related conflicts, jeopardizing the safety of both inmates and staff. Additionally, the compromised judgment and altered behavior associated with drug use can contribute to an unsafe environment.
Health Risks: Inadequate access to clean needles and supervision exacerbates health risks associated with drug use behind bars. The spread of infectious diseases, such as HIV and Hepatitis C, becomes a significant concern, impacting not only the health of individual inmates but also the public health system upon their release.
Recidivism: Drug abuse hampers the rehabilitative process, increasing the likelihood of recidivism. Individuals struggling with addiction issues are more likely to return to criminal behavior, perpetuating the cycle of incarceration without addressing the underlying causes of their actions.
Strain on Correctional Resources: The prevalence of drug abuse places a strain on already limited correctional resources. Increased incidents of violence, health issues, and the need for disciplinary measures divert resources away from programs aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration.

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Addressing the Issue

To effectively address drug abuse within the U.S. prison system, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. This includes implementing policy changes, enhancing treatment programs, and prioritizing mental health services.

Comprehensive Substance Abuse Treatment Programs: Investing in evidence-based substance abuse treatment programs within prisons is crucial. These programs should be tailored to the specific needs of inmates, offering counseling, behavioral therapies, and access to medication-assisted treatment when appropriate.
Mental Health Services: Recognizing the connection between mental health and substance abuse, prisons should prioritize mental health services. Adequate screening and assessment processes can identify individuals in need of mental health support, facilitating a holistic approach to rehabilitation.
Prison Staff Training: Proper training for prison staff is essential in identifying signs of drug abuse, preventing the entry of illicit substances, and responding effectively to incidents. Staff should also be educated on the underlying causes of addiction to foster a more empathetic and understanding environment.
Preventative Measures: Addressing drug abuse in prisons requires a proactive approach. This includes implementing preventative measures such as random drug testing, increased security measures to restrict contraband, and educational programs to inform inmates about the consequences of drug abuse.
Post-Release Support: The challenges of drug abuse often persist after release. Establishing effective reentry programs that provide ongoing support, including access to treatment and mental health services, can help break the cycle of addiction and incarceration.

Conclusion

Drug abuse within the U.S. prison system is a pervasive issue that demands urgent attention. Recognizing the interconnectedness of substance abuse, mental health, and criminal behavior is crucial for developing effective strategies to address the root causes of the problem. By implementing comprehensive treatment programs, enhancing mental health services, and prioritizing preventative measures, the correctional system can move towards a more rehabilitative and supportive approach. Only through such concerted efforts can the silent epidemic of drug abuse be curbed, fostering an environment where individuals have the opportunity to break free from the cycle of addiction and reintegrate successfully into society.

What Is a Wax Pen Vaping Device?

What Is a Wax Pen Vaping Device?

Everyone has heard of a vape or a vaporizer. But, more and more often, you’ll get terms like “wax pen” or “wax vape”. Wax pens are similar to vaporizers but are designed for vaporizing different substances, usually at higher temperatures.

Otherwise, wax pens are portable vaporizers designed to vaporize cannabis products. They’re also virtually useless for anything but cannabis dabs (crystals) or other crystalized drugs because they’re too hot for any non-processed product. However, they’re fully portable and convenient products for using concentrated drug products without the hassle of a traditional multi-part rig.

If you or a loved one is using or considering one, here’s what you need to know.

What is a Wax Pen?

A wax pen is a handheld vaporizing device consisting of a cartridge, a battery, and a mouthpiece. The system is extremely similar to a standard vaporizer in that the wax pen uses the battery to heat the cartridge, sending the vapor to the mouthpiece, where it can be inhaled.

Most have a small form size, which can be fit into a hand or a pocket. They’re usually a bit bulkier than traditional vapes though. Why? They’re actually a lot warmer. Most vaporizers cap out at about 450 degrees, or about the same maximum heat as a kitchen oven. Fresh cannabis mostly benefits from lower heat.

Wax pens on the other hand typically cap out at about 850F, or about the maximum heat of a soldering iron used to melt metal. That’s because wax pens are used to melt highly processed and crystalized substances.

Are Wax Pens Dangerous?

Is it dangerous to carry something that heats to 850F in your pocket? It can be. However, it doesn’t have to be. Wax pens can be manufactured to high standards of safety, which means having thermal overload, automatic shutdown, and significant insulation. You wouldn’t want to leave one on in your pocket. However, providing you buy one from a licensed manufacturer, most should have a safety switch to prevent this from happening.

Wax pens are also a lot safer than dab rigs. Here, you typically superheat a dab in a glass container or pipe and then inhale it. Glass can overheat and can even explode. In fact, burns, cuts, and burns around the mouth and the lungs are not uncommon with dab rigs. Therefore, in most cases, the wax pen is considered significantly safer than the dab rig or bong.

Of course, bongs can be perfectly safe to use as well. However, they are accident prone and may be dangerous to use.

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What are Dab Pens Used For?

Wax and dab pens are normally used to consume “Dabs”. Dabs are highly concentrated doses of THC which are extracted from a plant, much like hash is. In fact, dabs are made up of THC and butane hash oil. In most cases, growers use the trim (leaves, buds that are too small to sell) from the plant. They then cover it with butane (yes, the same butane used in cigarette lighters). This process is done in a lab with masks, gloves, and protection from the butane and should not be tried at home. The THC dissolves into the butane, producing a sticky, wax-like substance.

That “Dab” can contain 70-90% THC. That’s about triple the potency of the highest possible TCH contents of smoking straight cannabis.

Dab pens can also be used to vaporize other chemically processed drugs. For example, it’s rare to see drugs like meth used in vape pens. However, it’s increasingly common in dab pens, because the higher temperatures make it more effective. Again, this is safer than using a pipe for the same process.

Are Dabs Dangerous?

Dabs can be dangerous for a few reasons. The first is that the amount of THC is extremely high. This means you increase risks of dependence and addiction. You’ll also see increased impacts to mental health in terms of increased anxiety and even psychosis risks from smoking dabs over marijuana. And, because it’s so strong, it’s extremely difficult to keep your usage light or to control your dose at all. In fact, many people smoke too much, get paranoid and anxious, smoke more to calm that down, and exacerbate the cycle.

It’s also true that butane is highly flammable. Vaporizing it theoretically removes all of the harmful vapors meaning you shouldn’t be causing any extreme health risks to yourself by inhaling it. However, it’s dangerous to light and to have around heat – because it could technically ignite. As a result, wax pens can result in fires.

It also goes without saying that many of the other substances you can use a dab pen for are extremely dangerous. Meth, crack cocaine, and other free base versions of drugs are potent, addictive, and often extremely dangerous to uses. That’s unrelated to using a wax pen, and the wax pen will actually make using them safer than using a traditional glass pipe.

What Should You Know?

If you or a loved one is using a wax pen for dabs or for anything else, there are pros and cons. On the one hand, if you have to use something at the potency of dabs, it’s probably a bad sign for your mental health and your drug use. You might want to consider cutting back and trying to ensure your use falls within healthy parameters. If you can’t, it may be important to look into getting professional help to do so. Substance use disorders are a normal result of exposure to drugs. In fact, cannabis use disorder occurs in about 30% of “heavy” users. You also can’t use dabs without qualifying as a heavy user, which means you’re more at risk.

On the other hand, wax pens are a lot safer than glass bongs and pipes. If you’re using anyway, a wax pen produced by a licensed manufacturer may decrease risks of fires, burns, and glass cuts. So, if you’re going to keep using, a wax pen is a great way to minimize the physical safety risks of doing so. However, it’s important to ensure that you understand the safety precautions for the wax pen, to use the safety off, and to use the pen in a responsible manner. Unfortunately, using drugs decreases your ability to do so, which means your wax pen will likely never be completely safe. However, it’s still better than superheating glass.

If you’re using hard drugs or high concentration drugs and extracts, you might want to look into getting help. Drugs impact your mental health, decrease mental stability, increase risks of anxiety and paranoia, and increase risks of psychosis. That’s true for regular cannabis without looking at high-purity drugs like dabs. This means that dabbing or using a wax pen for dab or shatter greatly increases your risks. If you’re having trouble or even aren’t sure, talk to your doctor to get advice and to figure out how you’re doing. If you need help, it is there.

If you or your loved-one struggles from alcoholism or other substance abuse please contact us today and speak with one of our experienced and professional intake advisors about our alcohol rehab, detox, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment programs. 10 Acre Ranch also has specialty tracks like our pet friendly drug rehab and couples substance abuse treatment programs. We’re here to help you recover.

How Can I Tell if I’m Taking Fake Opioids?

If you’re taking pain pills recreationally, chances are, you have to source them from somewhere other than a pharmacy. That leads to increasing risks of the drug you think you’re taking not being present at all. Instead, today’s street drugs include counterfeit pills containing everything from stronger opioids like fentanyl to methamphetamine to benzodiazepines and even veterinary medications.

If you buy prescription pills on the street, it’s very likely to be some kind of opioid. The bad news is that fake prescription pills are also very likely to include extremely dangerous drugs like fentanyl. In fact, one DEA report showed that 6 out of 10 fake prescription pills they seized actually contained a potentially lethal (over)dose of fentanyl – an opioid that’s up to 100 times stronger than morphine.

How Common are Fake Opioids?

In 2021, the DEA seized some 20.4 million fake opioid pain pills. These drugs can often look extremely similar to the drugs they’re knocking off. And, with labels like Percocet, OxyContin, etc., it can be difficult to tell that you’re not taking the real thing.

With recent crackdowns on opioid prescriptions, it’s likely that fake opioids are more common than the real thing. This means that unless you get your pills from a pharmacy or someone you trust who go them from a pharmacy, you can’t be sure that your pain pills are genuine.

How Dangerous are Fake Pills?

According to the CDC, over 4.7% of deaths caused by overdose in 2021 were proven cases of fake opioids. In some states, that rate is as high as 15%. Those fake prescription pills included OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Xanax, and Adderall, so not all of them were sold as opioids. However, almost all of them included fentanyl.

That translates to a devastatingly large number of overdose deaths. In 2021, 106,000 Americans died from an overdose, meaning almost 5,000 people are proven to have died after taking fake opioids and pills. Those numbers are the highest they’ve ever been, which is linked to the rise in synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which are often significantly stronger than any other drug on the market.

In addition, with no dosing or quality control on fake opioids, you have no idea what you’re taking. A Percocet pill is dosed and rigorously checked for quality control. A fake Percocet may contain almost any amount of fentanyl and just one could send you into an overdose. And, according to the DEA, 60% of fake Percocet on the market has the ability to do so – dependent on your tolerance, metabolism, and genetics. That becomes even more dangerous if you’re buying Percocet in doses where you’d normally take more pills, because you have no idea of just one pill is enough to cause an overdose, let alone two or three.

It’s also a risk if you go to the hospital. If you tell hospital staff that you’ve been taking something like Vicodin, you’ll normally receive a single dose of Narcan, the overdose prevention drug. A single dose is enough to reverse an overdose for most pain pills. However, most fentanyl requires up to three doses to reverse the overdose, followed by longer term medical care because the drug lasts longer than the overdose prevention. Most Naloxone products are sold in doses of two, which means that if you’re using on your own, you’ll need two packs of Naloxone per person to use “safely”.

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Checking Your Pills

If you’re taking opioid prescription pain pills without a prescription, it’s important to do so safely. The best and only real safety measure is to take your drugs to a testing lab. Here, you can have your drugs tested to see if the contents are what you think they are, what the dosing is, and if there are any contaminates you should be aware of.

These services are often free or low cost. For example DanceSafe is a nonprofit center offering drug checking strips, so you can check for fentanyl and other contaminates in your home. The organization also has a lab, which you can sometimes use. In addition, DanceSafe sometimes has labs set up at events – which means you can always look for them if you live in an urban area. There are other organizations offering similar services, but DanceSafe is the only nonprofit drug checking company in the United States.

A drug test kit also isn’t a greenlight on your drugs. Instead, these kits look for red flags such as fentanyl or known contaminates. The DanceSafe kit looks for 100 different substances. It means it’s less likely that you’re taking fake opioids. However, you’ll need an actual lab test to see what your drugs actually are and if they are completely safe.

If you can’t order a test kit before you intend to take your pills, you can also try comparing your drugs to something you know is the real thing. That means having a package of the real thing on hand. For example, a friend might have a prescription which you can compare.

This means:

Comparing the packaging and looking for any differences
Looking at pill size and color and seeing if they are the same
Checking the listed dosage amount
Looking for irregularities in pill size, color, or contents
Breaking pills and seeing if they’re the same color inside

Prescription pills are always uniform in size, color, and contents. There are no irregularities from one to the next. Packaging is always sealed and always lists the dosage, the contents, and the brand. If not all of that is present, chances are, you’re taking fake pills.

However, fake opioids can be extremely convincing. It may be difficult to impossible to tell the real thing from the fake without a lab. So comparing your pills to the real thing isn’t a foolproof way of ensuring you’re taking “safe” pills. The only way to ensure you’re not taking fake pills is to have them lab tested or to buy them from a pharmacy.

Getting Help

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, it’s important to get help. That includes if you’re taking pills which you know could endanger you. Knowingly risking your life to get high is not a symptom of mental health or everything being okay. Often, it means you need mental health treatment and therapy – even if you’re not struggling with substance abuse problems or addiction.

Pain pills are popular, affordable, and are often considered safe. As a result, millions of Americans use them recreationally. Unfortunately, that’s becoming more and more dangerous as fake pills become more common. Today, there are millions of fake pain pills seized by the DEA every year. And, some 60% of those contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Often, there’s no easy way to tell fake pills from the real thing. However, you can look for lab testing if you will use those pills anyway. The best option is to stay safe, don’t use pills, and ask for help if you can’t stop using on your own.

How Can I Handle College Parties and Stay Sober?

How Can I Handle College Parties and Stay Sober?

Going to college can often feel like everyone is focused on one thing – and that’s having a party. That’s very often not true, but especially in the media, college life is glamorized with parties, drugs, and alcohol front and center. But, if you’re trying to stay sober, want to take care of your health, or are in recovery from a substance use disorder, that’s the last thing you want. You might still want to take part in social life and parties – but you want to do so sober.

Can you? Of course you can. However, it might mean staying away from some parties. It will also mean planning, putting effort into taking care of yourself, and putting effort into learning where your limits are. The following tips will help you join college parties while staying sober.

Go to Sober Parties

A lot of people aren’t aware that there are plenty of sober parties and activities on most campuses. In fact, many people try to get through college sober – which means their events and parties will generally be alcohol free. If you’re not sure, ask around the campus and even ask your counselor. Some colleges actually sponsor alcohol free parties – just because getting students to socialize more with less alcohol is the goal of any college.

If you don’t have an existing sober party set up, feel free to plan one yourself. You can decide if it’s absolutely no alcohol or low alcohol. You can also organize with your sorority/fraternity, with the college itself, or with any other group you like. Having games, a movie marathon, dancing, or any other social activity is a great theme for a party – and it doesn’t need alcohol.

Make Sure You Have a Sober Buddy

If you’re going to parties where alcohol is being served, it’s a good idea to have someone to watch your back. Here, your best bet is to try going to campus support groups like AA, NA, Smart Recovery, or LifeRing. That will allow you to meet other sober people – however, you should be in recovery from alcohol abuse to join them.

If not, you might just want to ask around to find like-minded individuals who don’t want to drink.

Why do you want a sober buddy?

You’ll feel less alone
You’ll feel less peer pressure to drink
You’ll be able to talk to someone if you do experience cravings or want alcohol
You’ll have someone to help you say no and to hold you socially accountable

The best option is to bring someone to the party with you who also wants to stay sober. However, even having someone to text or call is better than nothing.

Know Your Motivations

If you want to stay sober, it’s for a reason. Keep those reasons in mind. In fact, if you’re struggling with saying no to alcohol or are afraid you’ll slip up, try writing down your motivations before you leave for the party. That will ensure they are clear in your mind and you’ll have a good idea of exactly what you’re saying not to alcohol for.

It doesn’t matter if those reasons are “I want to take care of my health”, or “I deserve to experience social life sober”, or “I’ve worked too hard to be sober to give it up now”. Writing out your motivations, including negative repercussions of alcohol can help. Your reasons can be as simple as you like.

They just have to remind you why you’re saying no.

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Know Your Limits

If you don’t trust yourself to say no to alcohol, don’t go to parties with alcohol. If you’re not sure if you can say no, try going only when you have support or someone to help you. Knowing your own limits is an important part of navigating life – and it’s even more important when you have to say no to things like alcohol to meet your goals.

That’s also important if you experience triggers, if you have cravings, or if you’re struggling with alcohol abuse or did in the past. What’s likely to trigger you? How can you avoid that? How can you manage that if you can’t avoid it? When are you most likely to experience cravings? How can you avoid that? How can you manage that when you can’t avoid it? What can you do if things get bad?

Understanding yourself is the first step to managing yourself. And, that means paying attention to when and how you react to things and using that information to make better decisions for yourself.

Take Care of Yourself

Getting enough sleep and eating your vegetables might not sound like the best way to avoid drinking, but it might be. Giving yourself a solid foundation of rest, exercise, and nutrition ensures that you feel your best. That also holds true with ensuring you have regular social interaction, time with friends, and time to relax and have fun. Giving yourself a stable routine with good self-care ensures that you are as mentally healthy as possible.

That puts you in the best possible position to take care of yourself. That includes not needing a release or getting drunk as much as you might if you go back and forth between not getting enough sleep and feeling bad because you’re not giving your body what it needs. It also means having more emotional stability, so you’re less likely to be invested in pleasure-seeking.

Good routines can be difficult to start and harder to maintain. But, taking care of yourself is an important part of staying sober. And, if you’re taking care of yourself in other ways by going to the gym four days a week, eating 80% healthy meals, and going to bed and waking up at about the same time every day – indulging in alcohol is going to feel a lot less like giving yourself a break and a lot more like self-sabotage, which will make it easier to say no.

Talk to People

If you’re at a college party, chances are, you know almost everyone there. That makes it relatively easy to talk to people, to say no, and to explain why you want to stay sober. Most people want to be respectful of the people around them. Most people want to be good friends. So, simply going “No, I don’t want any alcohol and here’s why” can do a lot for ensuring that people don’t offer you alcohol. It might not feel that way. You might feel like skipping out on alcohol makes you the sad looser of the bunch – but chances are, there are more people there who are also abstaining. Talking about things, making them public, and ensuring that the group knows that taking care of you means not offering you alcohol can do a lot for you getting to enjoy college parties without alcohol. And, if that’s not the case, you’re probably at the wrong parties.

If you’re struggling with alcohol abuse, you don’t have to tell that to strangers. But you should practice saying no, get comfortable with it, and learn how to exit a situation if you’re pressured instead of accepted.

College parties can involve a lot of alcohol. But, more and more often, there are also options for sober get-togethers. Hopefully, these tips help you to manage parties and to get through college without sacrificing your social life to stay sober.

My Man Says He’s Not an Alcoholic: Signs of Alcoholism in Men

My Man Says He’s Not an Alcoholic: Signs of Alcoholism in Men

If your partner is drinking too much, you probably notice a lot. At the same time, they may argue or even outright deny drinking too much or having a problem. That’s a common problem with alcoholics. They convince themselves that they are in control and they can quit whenever they want – even when they can’t.

Recognizing that your loved one is struggling with an alcohol use disorder is one of the first steps of getting them help. It can also be important for your own mental health – especially if they are lying and hiding drinking. Unfortunately, if your loved one doesn’t’ want to get help, they won’t and you can’t make them. However, taking the steps to help them learn about substance use disorders, why alcoholism is a treatable thing and not a personal failing, and how they can get help may help. And, that all starts with recognizing the signs of alcoholism and how it impacts people.

They Get Sick Often

If your man is drinking so much that he has cold or flu symptoms when he stops, he’s struggling with alcohol dependency. This means that his body is so accustomed to alcohol that it has to adjust to lower levels of it when he stops drinking. With alcohol, this happens because alcohol interacts with the central nervous system and therefore the respiratory system. As a result, someone going through withdrawal will have shaking hands, sniffles, a headache, and will likely be extremely irritable.

Even if you notice that they periodically have these symptoms, especially if they can’t drink for a few days for medication or for work – then they likely have a problem.

He Sneaks or Hides Drinking

Someone with a healthy relationship to alcohol will never sneak or hide drinks. It doesn’t matter how much you “nag” them about it or feel negatively about it. If they have a good relationship with alcohol, they won’t hide using it.

This means that finding bottles hidden in a drawer or behind a couch is a sign of alcoholism. It means that someone who fills water or soda bottles with alcohol and takes them with them through the day is an alcoholic. It means that someone who often or normally slips alcohol into their normal beverage is an alcoholic. And, it means that someone who hides or tries to throw away bottles or evidence that they were drinking is an alcoholic.

They Drink More than They Say

If your loved one promises to have a single drink and then gets drunk, it’s fine once, but more than that and it’s a bad sign. Even if they jokingly go “I can’t just have one beer, it turns into two and then three”, it means that they don’t have self-control around alcohol. Lack of self-control around alcohol means they have a substance use disorder.

That’s also true if he tells you he drank less than you know he did. For example, if your partner comes home smelling strongly of alcohol and says he only had a few beers. Or, if he lies about not being drunk but is drunk. If he has to lie about it, it is a problem.

Unfortunately, this can be difficult to argue or work around. Why? People often lie so well that they convince themselves. That’s very easy in a bar, where you don’t have bottles and cups to get rid of. It’s also easy at home when you sneak drinks and hide them – because you don’t see the evidence of how much you’re drinking either. When that’s the case, it means alcohol consumption can get significantly out of hand, because they aren’t keeping tabs on what they are actually drinking.

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They Frequently Binge

Binge drinking, or drinking more than four servings of alcohol in a single sitting, shouldn’t be a regular thing. Healthy alcohol consumption involves moderation and being careful of how much you drink and why. Yet, 80% or more of Americans will sometimes binge drink. If that happens once or twice a year, it’s usually fine. However, if it’s a thing that happens more often, it usually means there’s a problem.

That’s also true if they:

Save up to get to drink more on the weekends
Drink to the point of blackout
Drink to the point of throwing up
Have memory lapses while drinking

They Overprioritize Drinking

It’s normal to look forward to having a few beers with friends. However, if someone has a problem, they over think about drinking. Sometimes that can take the form of making it a hobby. People invest in craft beer or spirits to make their alcoholism more socially acceptable. However, if they spend a significant portion of their time thinking about or drinking alcohol, it’s usually a bad sign. You can have a healthy relationship with craft alcohol and put more time and attention into it. However, that should not be paired with also frequently getting drunk.

Overprioritizing drinking looks like:

Spending a lot of effort to ensure there is alcohol
Skipping meals so alcohol hits harder
Skipping meals so they can drink without gaining weight
Refusing to go somewhere because they can’t drink
Refusing to go somewhere unless you are the designated driver

Essentially, if the most important part of the activity is drinking, your partner has a problem.

He Drinks to Self-Medicate

TV shows and media have normalized “having a drink to feel better” or to “unwind”. However, that’s a very unhealthy approach to life and one that can result in addiction. If your partner uses alcohol to make themselves feel better during extreme events, it’s probably fine. On the other hand, if they need a beer to unwind from work or to even be normal, they have a problem.

Alcohol should not be a way to cope with stress. It also shouldn’t be a way to manage emotions, including social anxiety. Alcohol also should not be a social lubricant. If you “need” it, you have a problem.

They Can’t Quit

If your partner goes “I can quit anytime I want”, and then doesn’t, it usually means they can’t. That’s also true if they keep trying to quit and then relapse and find a reason for that. Or, if they say they will quit or cut back, and then keep finding reasons to not. “I’ll stop drinking when that stressful thing stops” is the same as saying “I can’t quit”. It’s also true if they blame it on you, “I might drink less if you didn’t nag so much”, also means “I can’t quit”.

Most people will at least try to cut back or to quit and then may find that they can’t actually do so. That’s true even if it seems like they have a valid reason. Or if quitting really is inconvenient right then. If someone cannot quit, especially if they say they want to, they have a problem.

If your partner is struggling with alcohol, it’s important to try to get them help. Unfortunately, getting someone to acknowledge that they need help can be extremely difficult. You may need professional help or an intervention to get your partner to face the fact that they do have a problem. And, that starts with recognizing the ways they do struggle with alcohol. Good luck getting your loved one into treatment.

Casual Cocaine Use – How Dangerous Is It?

Casual Cocaine Use - How Dangerous Is It?

Cocaine is one of the most common recreational drugs in the United States. In fact, in 2022, an estimated 478,000 people tried cocaine for the first time. For many of those people, cocaine will remain an intermittent and “casual” thing. For others, it goes on to become an important part of their lives. In fact, in 2022, an estimated 0.5% of the population, or 1.4 million Americans over the age of 12 had a cocaine use disorder.

Cocaine is often seen as a relatively light and even casual drug. It’s touted for wearing off quickly, having a low addiction profile, and for being “safe” to use compared to heroin or even pain pills. Unfortunately, while cocaine can be safer than opioids in some respects, cocaine is not a safe drug to use, even recreationally or casually. There’s a lot of data that goes into that, but even a single cocaine usage can send you to the hospital. And, with 1.4 million Americans experiencing addiction to cocaine, it’s also addictive.

Cocaine is Addictive

Cocaine is an addictive drug and the more you use it, the more likely you are to develop a reliance and addiction. Most “casual” users feel that they are safe from addiction because they don’t use often. However, for many people, addiction is also about exposure and vulnerability to exposure. Using the first time is what prompts you to use more – and each time you do, you’re more likely to increase usage. This means that any usage will result in a higher risk of addiction. It’s also true that many people experience tolerance and you need increasingly more of the drug to get the same results – which again, increases risks of addiction.

Cardio and Heart Problems

Cocaine is a stimulant that elevates the heart rate and puts stress on the heart. That can cause immediate problems for individuals with high blood pressure or a weak heart. For example, if you have a family history of heart disease, have had heart surgery, or have other heart problems, you are at high risk of experiencing heart problems from cocaine.

In addition, cocaine puts stress on the heart which can result in long-term problems, weakening the heart, and increasing risks of heart attack with each successive use. Long-term spikes in blood pressure are also uncommon in exercise and normal activity. This means that the 60+ minutes of average cocaine use can result in significant spikes to blood pressure which can mean you have a stroke resulting in paralysis or even death.

And those can all turn into long-term side-effects with chronic arrythmia, infarctions, or coronary artery disease. These can greatly increase your need for medical care and will decrease your quality of life.

Overdose Risks

Most people don’t think of cocaine as something you can overdose on. But, in 2020, 19,447 people died of cocaine overdose in the U.S. alone. That overdose can happen for a number of reasons. The most common are that someone is unaccustomed to using cocaine and takes too much or that they take too much in quick succession. For example, a common way to use cocaine is to take a line and then pass it around, taking more to extend the high as the evening progresses. If you don’t wait long enough in between doses, the drug builds up in your system, eventually resulting in an overdose. And, that overdose can be extremely difficult to treat in a hospital – especially as many people reach the ER for cardio related issues and heart attack rather than for cocaine overdose.

Symptoms include:

Significant sweating
High body temperature
High blood pressure
Agitation
Seizures
Tremors or shaking
Difficulty breathing
Hallucinations or visual distortions
Arrythmia
Heart attack
Stroke

In each of these cases, a medical team may not realize that you’re suffering from anything but a heart attack or stroke until it’s too late. That means they may treat only the symptom rather than the overdose which will continue to cause issues.

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Toxicity and Poisoning

Cocaine toxicity happens when cocaine permeates the membrane tissue around the cardiovascular system. The result is often sudden death. Unfortunately, with no way to predict when it will happen and no dose associated with toxicity, this is a risk you take on every time you use cocaine.

That’s also true when toxicity is caused by contaminants. For example, cheap cocaine may be cut with substances like baby powder and talk. It might also be cut with fentanyl, which increases risks of overdose. Both are extremely bad for your airways and your lungs. However, some substances can actually be toxic and may require medical intervention.

Decreased Nasal Health

Cocaine is extremely bad for your nasal passages. In fact, it erodes the cartilage between your nostrils by cutting off blood supply, constricts blood vessels, and may eventually result in significant changes to the way you’re able to smell and even breathe. Even casual use will result in the death of nasal tissue, which can lead to sores, infections, scarring, and other problems

Increased Mental Health Problems

Cocaine, like many other drugs, is bad for your mental health. That’s also true when taken in moderation. Here, cocaine functions as an upper, creating increases in serotonin and dopamine in the brain. While high, people feel powerful, euphoric, and social – everything is experienced as intense. That feeling comes at the cost of changing your brain chemistry, because your brain will adjust to try to regulate dopamine and serotonin levels. This can mean reduced production of both during everyday life, meaning you feel less, get less reward from social contact, and eventually have to lean more and more on the drug just to feel good. That might also mean that the quality of the rest of your life is decreased. However, it also puts you at increased risk of paranoia, anxiety, and depression – and each of those will encourage you to use more so that you get to feel good.

In each case, cocaine starts out as seemingly harmless but pushes your mental health so that you’re not happy without it. And that can be extremely difficult to deal with, especially if you already have mental health problems.

Of course, cocaine isn’t guaranteed to cause anxiety or depression. In addition, your mental health problems may vanish if you simply stop using for 3-24 months. However, cocaine usage can cause those mental health problems, even if you’re using moderately.

Eventually, cocaine is a high risk drug. Here, its highest risk is for cardiovascular health as it causes a significant amount of stress on your heart. However, it’s also addictive and may cause issues with reliance, emotional blunting, and needing cocaine to cope or to feel good. That will all result in a negative spiral and increase risk of addiction. At the same time, cocaine can be dangerous even if you only use it once. For that reason, it’s always a better idea to choose something safer for recreational use or to look for ways to spend your time that don’t involve intoxication. However, if you must use, it’s important to seek out an overdose prevention center where you can use safely, with medical attention, and with the assurance that help is there if you need it.

If you or your loved-one struggles from cocaine abuse or other substance abuse please contact us today and speak with one of our experienced and professional intake advisors about our detox, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment programs. 10 Acre Ranch also has specialty tracks like our pet friendly drug rehab and couples substance abuse treatment programs. We’re here to help you recover.